Wednesday, December 19, 2018

CHEC students- There may be help available to you that
you might not even realize, including financial resources, transportation,
child-care, and assistance with job searching. The Cookeville American Job
Center (AJC) will be on the CHEC campus from January 2 to 10 from 9:30am to
2:30pm each weekday. Check to see what they may have for you. These dates are
before classes start, primarily because you need to get enrolled in these
programs now. Look for the AJC in the main lobby!

The AJC works with Tennessee and U.S. Department of Labor
via the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA improves access to job training and
education opportunities for people who have traditionally faced barriers to
employment, including individuals with disabilities, out-of-school and at-risk
youth, youth in foster care or young adults who have aged out of foster care, formerly
incarcerated individuals, and others.
WIOA emphasizes pursuing and obtaining post-secondary education,
training and other credentials as a foundation for improving career prospects
for the long-term. WIOA and the AJC also provides resources to Veterans and
their families.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Vol State campuses will be closed for a holiday break, starting December 22 and going through January 1. Offices will reopen on January 2. However, current students can still register for classes on My Vol State and new and readmit students can apply online at www.volstate.edu/apply

Current students- be sure to register for Spring Semester classes before the holidays. Classes start January 14. If you need help visit Advising on your campus. New and readmit students need to apply first: www.volstate.edu/apply

You will be able to register for classes up until the first week of classes. However, the earlier you apply and register, the better choice of classes and class times you will have. Beat the rush - get it done now!

Monday, December 17, 2018

The Cookeville Higher Education Campus (CHEC) and Vol State at Livingston have been participating in Christmas parades. CHEC entered a float in the Cookeville parade that students worked to decorate.They had great participation. Vol State at Livingston had the Vol State Campus Police car in the Overton, Clay, Pickett and Jackson Parades.

Friday, December 14, 2018

Student veteran and fall graduate Bobby Wilson has
experienced lots of change in his life. Now, he’s embracing change by embarking
on a new career path. Bobby spent five years in the Air Force as a structural
mechanic; he then continued in the aviation industry for a total of 21 years. After
multiple layoffs in his field, he felt that job security was non-existent. Bobby
pondered going back to school for a while and decided to go for it. With some
past experience in aviation law, a second career in law seemed like a natural
fit. He also discovered a grant which would pay for his first two years called the
Trade Readjustment Act. He chose to take his first steps towards his law career
at Vol State.

“People who qualify for this are those whose jobs have been relocated out of
the country. I found out by accident about it, just by digging around,” he
said. Discovering this sealed the deal to attend college.

“I thought, ‘I’ve done been in this business so long, I figured, ya know, maybe
I just need to get out of it while I’ve still got time.’ Even if I became
physically disabled I could continue to work. So, if what little bit of brain I
have continues to work, I can still make a living.”

Bobby will attend Tennessee State University’s Criminal Justice program
conducted on Vol State’s campus; his end goal is to attend law school.

“It was the quickest most expeditious route to get to law school,” he said. “I
thrive in the (law) environment and reading the nuances of the law.” Bobby aims
to eventually pursue administrative law.

Bobby has expressed his positive experience at Vol State: “I have really liked
Vol State. I was apprehensive as you could imagine, coming back into this
environment … I thought, ‘How will these young people look at me?’ But it’s
been a pleasant experience. I’ve made some really good acquaintances. I would
highly recommend Vol State.”

Bobby is excited about his transition to TSU and plans to return to work in
January while attending school full-time next semester. Bobby is a husband and
father to four; he is one of 24 veterans graduating this Saturday.

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Fall graduate Joy Johns has always known she wanted to
pursue a career in the medical field, but she wasn’t sure exactly what. She
began at Vol State as a Pre-Health Professions major before realizing her
calling to become a nurse. Her career path became solidified while caring for
her grandfather with dementia.

“He had dementia for about eight years and then he had a stroke, he could
barely function. He couldn’t really walk by himself and he started declining so
much after that,” she said.

“The more I was looking into it, the more I felt like I should be a nurse … I
just really felt a calling for it. One
thing I look forward to is to be able to encourage others more than I am right
now, and also to help them physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I
definitely need to focus on living up to fullest potential so I can help others
live up to their fullest potential. It gives me so much energy to be able to pour
love and care into a person.”

Joy said that she will miss many things about Vol State including the students,
professors, and her classes, but she feels well prepared for her next step to
Tennessee Tech University. Vol State is also sentimental to her because her
mother and grandmother are alumni, and some of her siblings have gone or
currently go here.

“I’ve been so blessed. Every year before I sign up for classes, I’ll pray for
good professors and good classes, and even on the classes that I don’t
necessarily like, I’ll ask for it to be enjoyable, and they really have been …
I wish I could just start naming teachers, but all of them are so good … Just
taking this next step, I’ve realized how much Vol State has helped me to
prepare for taking new steps.”

Joy gives credit to God, her family, and her fiancé Nate, whom she will be marrying
in January, for being her biggest supporters.

Friday, December 7, 2018

The closure of Brightwood College and Virginia
College locations in the Nashville area has left many students wondering
what to do next. Volunteer State Community College has an information
session planned for Thursday, December 13. The goal is to let the
students know what options they have in continuing their education at
Vol State. The college offered similar help to students after the ITT
closure in 2016. It is difficult when assisting students from for profit
institutions, because the classes and programs often don’t have the
same accreditation as state and private colleges and universities.
Students will be able to meet with admissions advisors from Vol State
about transferring credit and financial aid. The meeting will take place
at 6pm at the Hampton Inn at Providence at 5001 Crossings Circle in Mt.
Juliet. For a complete list of the credit programs offered at Vol
State visit www.volstate.edu/academics. Vol State has set up a web page for Brightwood and Virginia College students: www.volstate.edu/joinus.

Thursday, December 6, 2018

There may be weather issues on Monday. Vol State notifies students of delays and closings via text message and the front page of the website at www.volstate.edu Because next week is finals week, if we do have weather changes it will require more communication, so you will also need to check your student email for details on when finals will be rescheduled. Also check eLearn for direct messages from your instructor for each class. Be aware that Vol State does not close in conjunction with county schools.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

A group of Vol State Geology students had the opportunity to take their education out into the field recently, as part of the Tennessee GEOPATHS program. Tennessee GEOPATHS is an NSF funded program designed to help students from community colleges who are considering transferring to four-year geology and physical geography programs at UT-Knoxville. The students traveled to the Smoky Mountains for the overnight field trip. They will have another trip this coming spring as part of the program. Faculty member Clark Cropper organized the trip. From left to right are: Chynna Graves, Jabresha Chatman, Hunter Crowson, Katie Ingram, Christian Garrison, and Ethan Denson.

Monday, November 26, 2018

Come enjoy seasonal music and
original songs featuring The Showstoppers, The Vol State Singers, the Vol State
Jazz Ensemble, The Commercial Music Ensemble and Bluegrass Ablaze. Other
students and faculty from the music and theater departments will also perform.
Admission is free and the event is open to the public. There is a suggested
donation of $5 to benefit the Vol State Steinway Piano Fund. The concert also
celebrates the release of a CD of student music. The CD will be available for
$5.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Vol State is
introducing a convenient and affordable new program that delivers your digital
textbook (e-text) by the first day of class at a significantly reduced cost compared to hard-copy textbooks. And,
the cost of the textbook is included as part of your tuition or fees.

Registering for
your classes and then buying your textbooks used to be two separate events.
Through the Digital Engagement program, you can experience additional
convenience with automatic delivery and immediate accessibility to your course
textbooks.

You can eliminate
the time spent searching for deals on books AND you no longer have to worry
about getting the wrong book or edition.The program guarantees you’ll have the textbook you need from day one,
making it easier for you to prepare for class and be successful in your course.

The following
courses will be part of this new program for classes in the spring 2019 term:

Course

Title

Section/CRN

Day/Time

Instructor

E-Text Cost

COMM 2025

Fundamentals of
Communication

4 (17196)

MW 12:45-14:10

Karen Johnson

$47.95

ENGL 1020

English
Composition II

17 (15583)

MW 14:20-15:45

Sarah Crotzer

$33.20

ENGL 1020

English Composition
II

38 (11724)

TR 14:20-15:45

Sarah Crotzer

$33.20

ENGL 1020

English
Composition II

C03 (12228)

Online

Sarah Crotzer

$33.20

INFS 1010

Computer
Applications

6 (11332)

TR 12:45-14:10

Phillip Hearn

$108.25

INFS 1010

Computer
Applications

C01 (11343)

Online

Abbas Imam

$108.25

MUS 1030

Introduction to
Music

3 (11762)

MW 8:00-9:25

Lynn Peterson

$72.00

MUS 1030

Introduction to
Music

4 (11763)

MW 12:45-14:10

Ben Graves

$72.00

When you register
for any of these courses, you are automatically signed up to receive your

e-textbook. A few
weeks before classes start, you will receive an email with a link to access your
textbook. If you change your mind and would rather purchase a print copy from a
retailer of your choice, the email will include easy instructions to ‘opt-out’
of the program and will remove the e-text charge from your student account.

Top 10 Reasons to Digitally Engage

1.Speed
of Delivery – A digital
textbook can be downloaded immediately.

2.Easily
Portable - Digital
textbooks can be carried on a small laptop or e-reader, enabling students to
carry virtually hundreds of e-textbooks.

3.Easy
Search - The search
functions make finding any information on the digital textbook quickly. Most
e-readers allow notes to be tagged to specific words or paragraphs of a book.
This helps students to take clear notes in their digital textbooks.

4.Highlighting - The highlighting function allows
students to mark important parts of the digital textbook for easy study later.

5.Copy
and Paste - The copy and
paste functions allows students to quote sections of textbooks in their
references, without having to re-type them.

6.Audio - As digital textbooks can be easily
converted to audio files, it helps students to listen to their lessons when
driving or walking to campus.

7.Cheaper - Digital textbooks are cheaper
compared to traditional textbooks, sometimes as much as 50 to 70 percent less
than first edition print texts.

9.Quick
Updates - Traditional
textbooks become obsolete quickly while e-textbooks can be updated with current
information.

10.Font
Adjustments and Night Time Reading - E-readers make it convenient to adjust the size of the text and
come with back lighting or built-in reading lights, making nighttime reading
easy.

If you have any
questions about the program, please contact your advisor or your campus
bookstore representative Dianne.king@volstate.edu. Please
note that the cost of the eBook is not covered by TN Promise or TN Reconnect
and so must be paid out of pocket or with other Financial Aid.

A schedule reminder for Thanksgiving next week: no classes on Wednesday, November 21, however offices will be open. The college will be closed at all locations on November 22 and 23.Hours for the Thigpen Library in Gallatin: Wednesday, Nov. 21: open from 8am to 4:30pmThursday through Sunday, Nov. 22 – Nov. 25: ClosedWe hope everyone has a good holiday.Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

The work of Nashville artist Chip
Boles is on display at the Volunteer State Community College Art Gallery. Boles creates drawings in graphite and charcoal on wood panels. He
is a muralist in productions for the Nashville Children’s Theatre, and has been
featured in publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
He illustrates what he calls “realistic drawings of unreal characters.”

“Rendering detail is a form of
meditation and focus for me,” Boles said. “These characters’ personal stories
become important to me as I consider their emotional reactions to a world where
monsters show a capacity for humanity while humans show an aptitude for
monstrosity.”

The show runs until December 13. There will be a reception with the artist on Saturday, November 17
from 1 p.m.to 3 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public. The Vol State
Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the Steinhauer-Rogan-Black (SRB)
Humanities Building on the Gallatin campus at 1480 Nashville Pike. Gallery
hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information call 615-230-3202.

“If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer,” said Leslie
LaChance, professor of English at Vol State who was diagnosed with stage four lung
cancer in November of 2017. She added that lung cancer is one of the most underfunded,
under researched, and highly stigmatized cancers that exist. It’s considered a
smoker’s cancer, yet anyone can get it.

“I developed a really bad cough, it wasn’t going away. My doctor and I thought
that it was my asthma flaring up and that I needed to get on a different
inhaler. A few days later I got a little lump in my neck. It was a lymph node
that had swollen up, which could be a sign of something infectious or of
something metastatic,” she explained. In her case, it was metastatic. After
seeing multiple doctors and receiving CT scans, she got a call two days later
stating that it was lung cancer and had spread to her lymphatic system. At
stage four, the cancer was technically incurable, yet it was treatable.

Leslie discovered that it was an extremely rare form, caused by
a genetic mutation of the ROS1 gene. Her doctor informed her of a drug specifically
designed to treat her type of cancer through targeted therapy. On the day she
was supposed to begin the treatment, she woke up unable to breathe. She called
her doctor, who told her to get to the ER right away. Upon arrival, Leslie had
emergency heart surgery.

“I’m lucky I woke up, because what happened was a bunch of cancer cells had
attacked the fluid around my heart and the pericardium, there was all kind of
fluid buildup around the heart.” Following the heart surgery, she began the
treatment.

“Sadly, in May, I had some follow up scans and it showed that the drug had
stopped working.” The cancer had developed a resistance to the drug. “Cancer is
really clever and it will do whatever it can to survive.” It had metastasized
to her brain. “I had about 20 small tumors in my brain.” At that point there
were no drugs available, that she knew of, to treat her type of cancer that had
spread to the brain. “The only solution was to go into a chemotherapy kind of
thing, and I would have had to have whole brain radiation,” she said.

Leslie began doing research. A lot of it. “I tried to Google myself to PhD in
lung cancer.” In the meantime, she joined a Facebook support group for those
with ROS1 cancer. “It’s a group that calls themselves the ROS1DERS (pronounced ROS
wonders) because we keep finding ways to stay alive apparently.”

From the support group, she located a clinical trial in Boston for another targeted
therapy that would treat her type of cancer both in the brain and body, by
penetrating the blood-brain barrier. She qualified for the trial. “I got myself
a plane ticket and I was there the next week.”

By July, she had no evidence of disease in her body. “All of the tumors in my
brain were gone, I just had a tiny little bit, and by September that tiny
little bit was gone. It does not mean I’m cured. It means I have no visible
cancer in my body. I have it at the molecular level, but as long as this drug
keeps it suppressed, I won’t have tumor growth. So, I can kind of walk around
like a normal person.” The current side effects that she’s dealing with are
fatigue, forgetfulness, and neuropathy in her hands.

“Different things work for different people. So many factors
determine it. This just happened to work for me. So, I come up lucky on this
one … We don’t know how long it will work for, or how long I’ll be able to
tolerate it,” she explained.

“The most important thing I’ve discovered is that it’s really important to be
your own best advocate. Play an active role in your treatment and treatment
decisions. Think of your doctor more as a partner, not necessarily as the
person in charge … I’m going to be that person that tells people to do their
own research. By doing research, I learned it’s good to do research.”

November is lung cancer awareness month. Leslie’s first year “cancerversary”
was on Nov. 9, 2018, which was the day she was diagnosed in 2017. LUNGevity
Foundation is one of the major fundraisers for lung cancer research, also
providing patient education and support. They’ll host a walk on November 17th
at 8:00 A.M. in Nashville, and you can get involved. Colleagues of Leslie have
formulated a support group called the “Lit Wits” who will participate in the
event together.

Please visit LUNGevity.org/Nashville to register to volunteer or to find out
more information. To donate to or join Leslie’s group, please search “Lit Wits”
in the search bar on the website.

Leslie is retiring from Vol State at the end of the current fall semester. She
plans to return to next fall as an adjunct faculty member. Leslie has been
channeling her writing energy into her blog, which she started in response to
her journey with cancer. You can follow her blog at: sojournandstardust.blogspot.com

Friday, November 9, 2018

Choral music will take center stage on Sunday,
November 18 as the Vol State Singers perform sacred and secular seasonal music,
accompanied and a cappella, including works by the composers Hassler,
Scarlatti, Berger, Handel, Whitacre, and Koppin. The Vol State Singers are led
by Nancy Slaughter and will be accompanied by faculty member Nicholas Reynolds
on the piano. The concert is free and open to everyone. It will be held at 3
p.m. in the Wemyss Auditorium in Caudill Hall on the Vol State campus in
Gallatin. Here is a sample of what you will hear, from a recent rehearsal:

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Emergency Medical Technicians who want to take the next step to
Paramedic can now do so with a spring cohort that starts in January. Usually
Vol State enrolls new groups only in the fall. However, due to the popularity
of the program a new Paramedic spring cohort has been added. Students
must have already completed an Advanced EMT program to be eligible. For details
visit www.volstate.edu/ems

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

You may know Dr. Jerry Faulkner as the president of Vol
State, but you may not know that his first love is teaching. Before he was in administration,
Dr. Faulkner was an environmental science and biology professor for many years.
After voyaging to the plains of Tanzania to explore the Serengeti National Park
with his wife Wanda this past summer, they returned to the U.S. with many
stories. Dr. Faulkner gave a presentation which highlighted their experience,
and offered a crash course on ecology, elaborating on that of the Serengeti.

“You can’t keep a good field biologist out of
the field,” he said. “The way that I have described it to people is that it was
like being in a National Geographic special for nine days,” he explained. “It’s
kind of a bucket list thing for me … it’s such a unique ecosystem and not
something you can see in North America.”

Wanda said they were able come into fairly close contact with quite a few
different species of animals. “The number of animals was just breathtaking,” she
said. Dr. Faulkner presented many photographs of the animals and explained the
symbiotic relationship between the animals and the environment.

“Getting to see a mother cheetah run down and capture a Thomson’s gazelle, then
not killing it, but calling her cubs to come and finish it off, to teach them
how to kill, that was pretty cool,” said Dr. Faulkner. “To see and understand
the balance of nature that takes place in a totally wild community is not
something we really experience here in the states. In an environment where you
see predators killing prey you see that balance of nature,” he added.
There are over 120 tribes in Tanzania, and the Faulkners interacted with two of them, the Maasai and the Chaga
tribes. Wanda said that she admired the way the tribal people live. “They make
do with everything,” she said.
By experiencing this environment first hand and being able to convey those
experiences to students, Faulkner was able to revisit his love and passion for
teaching science. “Hopefully I’ll create among some of the students an interest
and an appetite to know more about ecology and biology,” Faulkner said.